Heating apparatus for paper-mill surge tanks



E. SIMZER Oct. 15, 1929.

HEATING APPARATUS FOR PAPER MILL SURGE TANKS Filed April 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnwmar Z 62777267,

I By Am A ttorng Oct. 15, 1929. 1 E. SIMZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In wentor Attorngy Patented Oct. 15, 1929 I 1,731,506

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDGAR SIMZER, OF POTSDAM, NEW YORK HEATING APPARATUS FOR PAPER-MILL SURGE TANKS Application filed April 23, 1928. Serial No. 272,279.

The present invention relates to a heating ally and in the present instance I have shown apparatus for surge tanks such as are used merely by way of illustration four of these at paper mills. Heretoforc considerable difelements for each float. ficulty has been experienced in having the I anchor a plurality of cables 14 on the sup water in each tank free. The prime object porting structure 7 to depend downwardly of the invention resides in the provision of therefrom and some of these cables are electrical heaters that move up and down in anchored to the conduit 8 or in any other suitthe surge tanks on cables and maintain the able manner in the bottom portion of the electric heating elements submerged in the tank and one of the cables is anchored to a water thereby maintaining the temperature cross piece 15 in the lower portion of the of the water above the freezing point. riser 9. These cables extend vertically and A still further very important object of through the tubes 11 there being one float on the invention resides in the provision of an each cable. apparatus of this nature which is exceed Electric conductors 16 have branches 17 ingly simple in its construction, inexpensive leading to the tops of the floats 10 and electo manufacture and install, strong and duratrically connected with the electric heating ble, not likely to easily become out of order, elements 12. These electric conductors 16 and otherwise well adapted tothe purpose for have cables, ropes or the like 18 attached which it is designed. thereto and trained over pulleys 19 on the With the above and numerous other objects supporting structure 7 and having weights 7 in view as will appear as the description 20 on their ends to counter balance the floats. proceeds, the invention resides in certain These weights, however, do not complete the novel features of construction, and in the counterbalance of the floats but are su'llicicnt combination and arrangement of parts as to cause the floats to be positioned at all times will be hereinafter more fully described and as is illustrated in Figure 1 in respect to the claimed. water that is so that the heating elements are In the drawing:' submerged.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a The conduits all are connected to aeommon surge tank embodying the features of my inconductor 21 leading from a suitable source vention, of electrical energy. Each cable let has proso Figure 2 is an enlarged detall vertical secvided thereon a pair of spaced stops 22 which tion through one of the floats, limit the up and down movement of the float.

Figure 3 is a transverse section there- These stops prevent the float from splashing through taken substantially on the line 33 up and down when there is a surge which is of Figure 2. caused when the generators in the power Referring to the drawings in detail it will plant are shut down. The surge lasts about be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a surge a minute or so until the water settles to its tank of conventional or any preferred connormal level again. These stops also prevent struction which as usual is provided with a any tangles in the wires which might occur roof or top 6 having a supporting structure if the floats were free to move the full length 7 and in its bottom is provided with a transof the cabe 14:. The weights 20 with their verse conduit 8 with a hollow riser 9 at the cables 18 prevent any slack in the wires 16. intermediate portion thereof terminating a It is thought that the construction, operadistance below the roof 6. Numerals 10 detion and advantages of this invention will note hollow floats which are provided with now be quite apparent to those skilled in this tubes 11 projecting through the tops and botart without a more detailed description toms thereof coaxially therewith. A pluralthereof. ity of electric heating elements 12 are It will now be quite apparent to those anchored in the bottom of the float to exskilled in this art without a more detailed tend outwardly therefrom preferably radidescription thereof. It will be seen that a suitable number of these floats may be employed to keep the temperature of the water above freezing and that the floats will maintain the heating element at the surface where ice is likely to form. It will also be seen that the manner of guiding and mounting the floats is such as to prevent any tangling of the wires and to allow the structure to function without any attention.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way of example since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing; from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a surge tank, a cable extending vertically in the surge tank and anchored at its end, a float of hollow construction having a tube extending therethrough and receiving the cable so that the float is free to move up and down vertically with the rise and fall of. the water in the surge tank, a plurality of electrical heating elements projecting; outwardly from the bottom of the float to be submerged in the water.

2. In a surge tank, a cable extending vertically in the surge tank and anchored at its end, a float of hollow construction having; a tube extending therethrough and receiving the cable so that the float is free to move up and down vertically with the rise and fall of the water in the surge tank, a plurality of electrical heat-in elements projecting outwardly from the bottom of the float to be submerged in the Water, means on the cable limiting the up and down movement of the float. s V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDGAR SIMZER. 

